Ms Thean said women try to book in before their baby is born, but she discourages it.

“Not every baby will have a problem, so you have to wait for a couple of months first,” Ms Thean said.

“It’s quite distressing if a new parent doesn’t know it’s normal for a baby to cry a total of three hours in a 24-hour time period. There are a lot of education classes out there for parents to prepare for the birth, but not much talk about what to do when the baby comes,” she said.

Babies commonly don’t settle because their stomachs aren’t full.

Frankston mother Ash-Lee Wenman, 18, was at her wits’ end when she booked herself and five-month-old son Levi into the Queen Elizabeth Centre in Noble Park.

Levi was waking up on the hour every night and would only nap briefly during the day. He also refused to sleep in any other position than on his belly, when experts advise that babies sleep on their backs.

On the first night at the sleep school, he was sleeping on his back and slept for longer. Now, he is sleeping for several hours before waking.

“I felt like a bad mother,” Ms Wenman said.

“Now I’ve realised that I didn’t have him in enough of a routine.”

A senior counsellor at Perinatal, Anxiety and Depression Australia, Suzanne Hurley, said there are many reasons for the popularity of sleep schools.

“Many new parents don’t have the skills,” she said. “Many of the mothers who call us haven’t even held a baby before having one.

“Also, if you’re having a baby later … and used to being able to manage everything in your life, it’s hard to accept babies don’t run to schedule.

Midwife Cath® has taken time to ensure to provide accurate information to you and as the mother baby relationship is unique to each and everyone it is impossible to cover every situation. If you have at any time concerns about the health and welfare of you or your baby you must consult personally with a health professional whenever you are in doubt about you or your baby’s health.